Waitahanui

Waitahanui is a village in the Taupō District, Waikato region, New Zealand. The village is on the eastern shore of Lake Taupō, 14 km south of the district seat of Taupō.

Waitahanui Marae and Pākira meeting house is a meeting place for the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū of Ngāti Hinerau and Ngāti Tutemohuta. The Waitahanui Bridge site is also a meeting place for the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū.

Demographics
Statistics New Zealand describes Five Mile Bay-Waitahanui as a rural settlement, which covers 5.30 km2 and had an estimated population of as of  with a population density of  people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Waitahanui statistical area.

Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a larger boundary, covering 14.72 km2. Using that boundary, Five Mile Bay-Waitahanui had a population of 555 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 141 people (34.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 102 people (22.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 177 households, comprising 267 males and 282 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 108 people (19.5%) aged under 15 years, 87 (15.7%) aged 15 to 29, 240 (43.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 108 (19.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 43.2% European/Pākehā, 64.3% Māori, 3.8% Pacific peoples, and 2.2% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 33.5% had no religion, 27.0% were Christian, 32.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Buddhist and 2.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 45 (10.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 87 (19.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 48 people (10.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 192 (43.0%) people were employed full-time, 66 (14.8%) were part-time, and 27 (6.0%) were unemployed.

Waitahanui statistical area
Waitahanui statistical area covers 120.64 km2 and had an estimated population of as of  with a population density of  people per km2.

Waitahanui had a population of 795 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 153 people (23.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 105 people (15.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 258 households, comprising 393 males and 399 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. The median age was 41.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 165 people (20.8%) aged under 15 years, 129 (16.2%) aged 15 to 29, 363 (45.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 135 (17.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 58.9% European/Pākehā, 50.6% Māori, 3.4% Pacific peoples, 1.1% Asian, and 0.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 7.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 39.6% had no religion, 29.4% were Christian, 24.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (11.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 129 (20.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 78 people (12.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 297 (47.1%) people were employed full-time, 102 (16.2%) were part-time, and 33 (5.2%) were unemployed.

Education
Te Kura o Waitahanui is a co-educational state Māori immersion school serving years 1 to 6, with a roll of as of  The Waitahanui Native School started in 1905.